Rotation-type safety buckle

ABSTRACT

A rotation-type safety buckle comprising of a male fastener and a female fastener is provided. The male fastener has a column at a center of an inner surface thereof, the male fastener has a respective engagement clamper,at each opposite side with respect to the column the engagement clamper is raised from the inner surface of the male fastener such that an opening is provided corresponding to the engagement clamper. The female fastener is provided with a central portion at a center thereof for connecting with the male fastener, the central portion has a wall and defines a guiding hole for receiving the column, and a respective side arm extending from the wall of the central portion is provided to enter the opening of the male fastener for complete engagement with the engagement clamper. The engagement is formed by the male fastener and the female fastener being stacked to each other and connected, making the male fastener rotate clockwise, making the side arm enters the opening of engagement clamper. A secondary protective .engagement function is provided by the protrusion residing within the void of the female fastener after the male fastener rotates clockwise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to a rotation-type safety buckle, and more particularly to a rotation-type safety buckle forming preliminary engagement by having each side arm of female fastener received in corresponding opening of male fastener, through clockwise rotation, and forming secondary engagement by having each protrusion of male fastener received in corresponding void of female fastener, for preventing unexpected external force from unfastening the safety buckle.

2. Description of the Related Art

Buckles are widely used in various apparels or personal carry bags. The buckle mainly consists of the male fastener and the female fastener. Through connection or engagement between the male and female fasteners, the desired locking function is achieved. And through a reverse operation, unlocking or unfastening of them is made while desired.

FIG. 1 shows a prior art buckle in which the male fastener A is provided with a retainer A1 at its inner central surface, and openings A2 are provided in the male fastener A corresponding to two cantilever ends of the retainer A1. Furthermore, two protrusions A3 are provided respectively on two opposite edges of the male fastener A at about the center location.

The corresponding female fastener B is provided with a through-hole B1 at its center for receiving insertion of the retainer A1, and the through-hole B1 is an open-ended hole. At two opposite edges of the female fastener B, two adjacent column s B2 are provided with an accommodation space. The accommodation space between two adjacent columns B2 functions to receive the protrusion A3 when the male fastener A and the female fastener B rotate with each other at an angle, referring to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. The shape of through-hole B1 corresponds to the shape of the retainer A1 and the size is larger for the through-hole B1 allowing the insertion of the retainer A1.

As shown in FIG. 2, 3A and 3B, after alignment of the male fastener A and the female fastener B and the retainer A1 passes through the through-hole B1 reaching its contact location, by either rotating the male fastener A or the female fastener B along one direction would make the retainer A1 and the through-hole B1 rotates towards different directions. Therefore, due to the provision of opening A2, the two ends of the retainer A1 directly engages with the edge surface defined by the through-hole B1.

In addition, each protrusion A3 at two opposite edges of the male fastener A, while relative rotation between the male fastener A and the female fastener B is made, enters the space provided by two columns B2 and retained by the two columns B2 (as shown in FIG. 3A and 3B).

However, in the above-mentioned buckle, as the protrusion A3 of the male fastener A intends to enter the space provided by the columns B2 of the female fastener B, a force is required to accomplish this action. And reversely, another force is also required while the protrusion A3 intends to escape the space between the columns B2 for detaching the male fastener A from the female fastener B. This configuration although provides tight and secure engagement arrangement, but it needs substantial force to detach the male fastener A from the female fastener B. For elderly and young people, it is not a good design.

Further, while the male fastener A intends to engage with or detach from the female fastener B, rotation in either directions may suffice. Therefore, if unexpected pulling or pushing force is exerted making either the break-down of the protrusions A3 or the columns B2, the male fastener A may easily detach from the female fastener B unexpectedly. This is a very non-ideal situation when the buckle is a used in the apparels or other carry bags.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing problems, drawbacks and disadvantages of the conventional buckles, an exemplary aspect of the present invention is to provide a rotation-type safety buckle for providing an improved and more secured engagement function when an unexpected force is exerted.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide a rotation-type safety buckle in which the engagement is formed by the male fastener and the female fastener being stacked to each other, making the male fastener rotate clockwise, making the side arm enters into the opening of engagement clamper.

Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide a rotation-type safety buckle in which a secondary protective engagement function is provided by the protrusion residing within the void of the female fastener after the male fastener rotates clockwise. Still another aspect of the invention is to provide a rotation-type safety buckle in which the detachment action is achieved by lifting the male fastener from the female fastener axially, and rotating the male fastener counterclockwise for a complete detachment.

To fulfill the above aspects of the invention, the buckle of the invention comprising of a male fastener and a female fastener,

wherein the male fastener has a column at a center of an inner surface thereof, the male fastener has a respective engagement damper at each opposite side with respect to the column, the engagement damper is raised from the inner surface of the male fastener such that an opening is provided corresponding to the engagement clamper; and

wherein the female fastener is provided with a central portion at a center thereof for connecting with the male fastener, the central portion has a wall and defines a guiding hole for receiving the column, and a respective side arm extending from the wall of the central portion is provided to enter the opening of the male fastener for engagement with the engagement clamper.

The engagement is formed by the male fastener and the female fastener being stacked to each other, making the male fastener rotate clockwise, making the side arm enters opening of the engagement clamper. A secondary protective engagement function is provided by the protrusion residing within the void of the female fastener after the male fastener rotates clockwise.

To detach the male fastener from the female fastener, a small force is needed making a small axial relative movement between the male and the female fasteners to allow the protrusion of the male fastener escape the void of the female fastener. In succession, to rotate the female fastener in counterclockwise direction making escape of the side arm from the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other exemplary purposes, aspects and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a structure of conventional buckle

FIG. 2 shows a transition status of conventional buckle in FIG. 1 during engagement process;

FIG. 3A shows another transition status of conventional buckle after FIG. 2;

FIG. 3B shows the conventional buckle after engagement process is complete;

FIG. 4 shows the explosive view of the male and female fasteners according to embodiment of invention;

FIG. 5 shows the explosive view of the male and female which is reverse to FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 illustrates the buckle when the fasteners are stacked to each other and begin to rotate with respect to each other;

FIG. 7 shows the status of buckle in final configuration after rotation action in FIG. 6 is complete;

FIG. 8A shows sectional view while side arm 23 partially enters opening;

FIG. 8B shows sectional view while side arm 23 entirely enters opening following status in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9A shows sectional view of the protrusion 14 about to enter void 24;

FIG. 9B shows final sectional view of the protrusion 14 in FIG. 9A entering void 24.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particular to FIGS. 4-9, there are shown exemplary embodiments of the structure according to the present invention.

As depicted in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the present invention provides a rotation-type safety buckle which mainly consists of a male fastener 1 and a female fastener 2. In the illustration, portion of the male fastener 1 of the safety buckle and the female fastener 2 connected to the male fastener 1 are shown in details.

At the center of inner surface of the male fastener 1, a column 11 is provided, and at each opposite side with respect to the column 11, an engagement clamper 12 is raised from the inner surface of the male fastener 1. An opening 13 is provided and formed between the engagement clamper 12 and the inner surface of the male fastener 1 at location corresponding to the engagement clamper 12, and the opening 13, in one embodiment, is a through-hole of the body of the male fastener 1. At four corner locations of inner surface of the male fastener 1, four protrusions 14 are provided for engaging with the female fastener 2.

At the center of the female fastener 2, a central portion 21 is provided for engaging with the male fastener 1. The central portion 21 has a guiding hole 22 at its center for receiving the column 11, and the guiding hole 22 defines a wall. Two side arms 23 extend from the wall, and the opening 13 of the male fastener 1 functions to receive the side arm 23 while the male and female fasteners rotate with respect to each other to its destination. Four voids 24 are provided at four corners of the female fastener 2 respectively corresponding to one protrusion 14 allowing entry of the protrusion 14 while rotation begins.

In a preferred embodiment, diameter of the void 24 is about larger than that of the protrusion 14 for facilitating entry of the protrusion 14 for an engagement along the rotation direction.

As depicted in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, to begin with the engagement, the male fastener 1 and the female fastener 2 are stacked together making the column 11 of the male fastener 1 insert in the guiding hole 22 of the central portion 21. And the engagement damper 12 also enters and is received in the space provided in central portion 21 of the female fastener 2.

At the instance of FIG. 7, either one of the male fastener 1 or female fastener 2 is rotated clockwise relatively making the side arm 23 enter the opening 13 and engage with the engagement damper 12 securely, as illustrated in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B. The first engagement measure prohibits any unexpected axial departure between the male and female fasteners.

As shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, as the male fastener 1 is rotated clockwise relatively to the female fastener 2, the void 24 of the female fastener 2 also rotates relatively allowing entry of the protrusion 14 into the void 24. Since the diameter of void 24 is about larger than that of the protrusion 14, the protrusion 14 may easily slip into the void 24 providing a secondary safety measure for the buckle.

The secondary engagement measure prohibits any unexpected relative rotational movement between the male and female fasteners.

When the buckle is under the secured engagement condition and faces with unexpected large pulling force exerted on the male fastener 1 or the female fastener 2 axially, this force can not detach the male fastener 1 from the female fastener 2, since the side arm 23 is received in the opening 13 and engages with the engagement damper 12 tightly prohibiting relative axial movement and, at the same time, the four protrusions 14 are received respectively into the void 24 prohibiting relative rotational movement.

Contrarily, to detach the male fastener 1 from the female fastener 2, a small axial force is needed first making a small axial relative movement between the male and the female fasteners to allow the protrusion 14 of the male fastener 1 escape the void 24 of the female fastener 2. Meanwhile and in succession, to rotate the female fastener 2 in counterclockwise direction (opposite to that shown in FIG. 6) makes escape of the side arm 23 from the opening 13. At a point as the engagement clamper 12 is aligned with central portion 12, to apply an axial force makes the column 11 and the engagement clamper 12 detach from the central portion 21 of the female fastener 2. At the end, the detachment of the male fastener 1 and the female fastener 2 is then accomplished.

As described above, dual engagement measures are provided in the buckle of the present invention which prevents the buckle from unfastening due to unexpected pulling force.

Benefits, advantages and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages and solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solutions to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the invention. All structural, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described exemplary embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein. As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising” or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. Further, no element described herein is required for the practiced of the invention unless expressly described as essential or critical.

While the invention has been described in terms of several exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A rotation-type safety buckle comprising of a male fastener and a female fastener, wherein the male fastener has a column at a center of an inner surface thereof, the male fastener has a respective engagement damper at each opposite side with respect to the column, the engagement clamper is raised from the inner surface of the male fastener such that an opening is provided corresponding to the engagement clamper; and wherein the female fastener is provided with a central portion at a center thereof for connecting with the male fastener, the central portion has a wall and defines a guiding hole for receiving the column, and a respective side arm extending from the wall of the central portion is provided to enter a corresponding opening of the male fastener for engagement with the engagement clamper.
 2. The rotation-type safety buckle of claim 1, wherein the opening is a through-hole in a body of the male fastener.
 3. The rotation-type safety buckle of claim 1, wherein the inner surface defining four corners, each corner is provided with a protrusion for engaging with the female fastener.
 4. The rotation-type safety buckle of claim 3, wherein, along a circumference of the central portion of the female fastener, at least a void corresponding to the protrusion is provided for receiving the protrusion.
 5. The rotation-type safety buckle of claim 4, wherein diameter of the void is substantially larger than diameter of the protrusion for facilitating entry of the protrusion. 